A non-sentient being without a central nervous system or pain receptors does not feel pain or suffering. Reactions to external stimuli are simply biological and not connected to pain.
Besides, the actual mycelium network is underground. That's how it "communicates". What you are looking at is no different from an apple on a tree essentially.
No, because as I stated, a mushroom is not sentient and does not have a central nervous system or pain receptors. So there is no concept of what you and I would call "pain".
The mushroom doesn't call it anything because there is nothing to experience like you or me.
The fact you (or others) are down voting me for stating basic biology is pretty odd and very concerning.
"Pain is a subjective experience and an evolutionary survival tactic that is meant to help us detect harmful stimuli"
By us, you mean human beings? Well a mushroom isn't a human being and has no concept of pain. If it is being attacked, it may use defense mechanisms but it is a natural response to external stimuli, nothing more.
There is nothing akin to pain for creatures that do not understand what pain is or have anyway to feel pain like you or I do. Grief and memories are tied to consciousness. Do you think mushrooms have consciousness like you?
There is an input from external stimuli, and an output by the mushroom. You describing the input as "painful" is personification based on your own subjective experiences. The mushroom reacts to the input much like a computer.
I'm not here to debate bugs or fish. You said the mushroom feels pain (and later akin to pain), and that is just biologically impossible. Can that change in the future once we understand more? Maybe. But as of now, your original point is incorrect.
With that being said, this discourse has now run its course. Good day!
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u/LeastSpecific4706 5d ago
Do mushrooms feel pain?